Chapter 22

“Who does Yun Cheng want to marry you off to?” Pei Yu gripped her wrist, his eyes icy.

“He wouldn’t dare now, unless…” Yun Yin’s gaze flickered before settling on him. “Unless you abandon me, he’ll arrange a political marriage for me.”

“Has he tried to arrange one before?”

Yun Yin shrugged dismissively. “Weren’t Wang Li and Chen Shen examples of that?”

She didn’t notice Pei Yu’s eyes darkening, his grip tightening unconsciously.

After a few seconds, Yun Yin shifted her hand, which he was still holding tightly. “You’re hurting me.”

Pei Yu stared at her. Yun Yin pursed her lips, her expression faintly aggrieved. When she was displeased, her features became surprisingly animated.

“Delicate.”

After a moment, Pei Yu finally relented and released her.

Where his fingers had been, a vivid red mark bloomed on Yun Yin’s wrist—a splash of crimson against her pale skin, like scattered red plum blossoms on fresh snow, an oddly beautiful contrast.

Though the grip had stung, Yun Yin merely looked mildly displeased, refraining from a full-blown tantrum. Instead, she murmured softly, “You’re so strong.”

Am I?

Pei Yu remained silent for a moment, staring intently at Yun Yin before slowly asking, “Wang Li?”

“Chen Shen?”

His gaze was intense, and he spoke deliberately. “Didn’t you say you didn’t remember?”

Yun Yin’s pupils widened slightly as her mind raced. “I didn’t at first, but Yun Cheng’s mention of it brought it all back.”

So, it’s not my fault. Blame Yun Cheng.

Pei Yu didn’t comment on this excuse, merely scoffing.

“Look, you’ve made my wrist red,” Yun Yin said, shaking her wrist in an attempt to evoke guilt in the great villain.

Pei Yu stared at the red mark for a moment before slowly saying, “I didn’t notice.”

Yun Yin hummed. Being magnanimous, she didn’t hold it against him. “Then be more careful next time.”

“Anything else?”

“I told them that if it weren’t for me, Yu Jiang wouldn’t have partnered with Yun Cheng.” Yun Yin smirked, her voice tinged with pampered pride. “So now they don’t dare bully me.”

Pei Yu raised his eyelids, his tone pointed. “Seems you’re not entirely foolish. You know how to use me as leverage.”

“Of course.”

While she hadn’t actually suffered any mistreatment from the Yun Family, it was ultimately due to Pei Yu’s influence. She had leveraged his formidable backing to assert her authority, borrowing his prestige like a fox masquerading in a tiger’s skin.

Now that Pei Yu seemed displeased, she needed to put on a show and coax him.

“You’ll still have my back, right?”

She looked up and met Pei Yu’s dark eyes, which held a hint of amusement. For some reason, she felt a guilty sensation, as if he could see right through her. She quietly suppressed the corner of her lips, which threatened to curl upward, and lowered her gaze, feigning hurt. “I see now. It seems I was just deluding myself.”

“…” Was that what he meant?

After a few seconds, Pei Yu sighed in resignation. “I haven’t signed the contract with Yun Cheng yet.”

He didn’t need to say more; Yun Yin understood perfectly.

He was going to freeze Yun Cheng’s funds.

It was time to give the Yun Family something to worry about, to keep them from bothering her day and night.

“You’re actually quite nice,” Yun Yin said with earnest sincerity.

Pei Yu paused, then scoffed. “Is this a ‘nice guy’ card?”

“Hmm.” Yun Yin blinked, then began to seriously consider the question. After a moment, she nodded. “I suppose so.”

She knew Pei Yu hadn’t missed her little act and hidden thoughts.

But so what?

Even if he knew she was pretending, he hadn’t called her out, instead playing along perfectly.

In Yun Yin’s heart, he was a good person.

Most of the time, Yun Yin rarely paid attention to the outside world or sensed others’ emotions, living in her own solitary bubble.

Yet she could always keenly perceive Pei Yu’s feelings.

The way he looked at her was so complex she couldn’t decipher it, so intense it seemed it would devour her whole.

Yun Yin froze.

Pei Yu quietly stared at her, his eyes slightly narrowed, an inexplicable emotion brewing within him. After a moment, he suppressed the deep-seated feeling and regained his composure. “A Yin doesn’t want to marry me?”

Marry Pei Yu?

Yun Yin had never considered it.

But she instinctively avoided the question, her gaze darting away. “I haven’t even accepted your proposal yet.”

Pei Yu lowered his gaze to meet hers.

After a long moment of staring at her, he murmured, “You’re right.”

The topic was abruptly changed, and they tacitly avoided bringing it up again.

As Yun Yin spoke, she covered her mouth and stifled a small yawn.

Pei Yu glanced down and saw her leaning against his shoulder, her eyelids drooping. Yet she persisted in talking to him.

Having just left the hospital, her body hadn’t fully recovered. After speaking for so long, she was clearly losing energy, likely exhausted.

Pei Yu fell silent. Yun Yin waited a moment, then slowly relaxed into him. He gently patted her thin back, and soon her breathing grew soft and even.

He gazed down at her for a long time.

Something within him, once shrouded in mist, was now becoming clear.

This time, he didn’t just want to keep her by his side.

He wanted her willing heart.

Time passed unnoticed.

A low, gentle voice whispered in Yun Yin’s ear, then faded into the air.

“I won’t abandon you.”

---

When they arrived at Cloud-Veiled Lake, Yun Yin was still asleep.

Pei Yu didn’t wake her. He simply carried her into the bedroom, laid her on the bed, and tucked her under the covers.

It wasn’t until dusk that Yun Yin slowly stirred. The setting sun cast long, golden rays through the windows, bathing the room in a warm, amber glow.

She then noticed that her room had been completely renovated. A smart home system and monitoring devices were installed at her bedside, connected to the outside world, allowing her to fulfill all her needs without leaving the room.

Unbeknownst to Yun Yin, Pei Yu had used her recent illness as an opportunity. During her hospitalization, he had installed smart home systems and monitoring devices throughout Cloud-Veiled Lake, especially in the places she frequented, to ensure she would never be left helpless again.

Knowing Yun Yin’s sensitivity to the cold, Pei Yu inspected the villa’s heating system and covered the stairs and floors with thick carpets. He even built a glass greenhouse in the courtyard.

Cloud-Veiled Lake had originally been just one of Pei Yu’s many properties. He hadn’t paid much attention to the villa’s design or furnishings, casually assigning staff to live there.

He thought he should choose a better place for her.

But when he suggested it, Yun Yin refused.

“I like it here,” she said. “I’m used to everything at Cloud-Veiled Lake. I don’t want to adjust to a new environment.”

If Yun Yin didn’t want to move, then she wouldn’t. Pei Yu didn’t press the matter.

And so began the great transformation of Cloud-Veiled Lake.

---

The next morning, Yun Yin was still deep in sleep when someone disturbed her peaceful slumber.

“I’m so tired,” Yun Yin mumbled, her eyes still closed.

“I thought you took a calming medicine, not a sleeping pill,” Pei Yu said, raising an eyebrow with amusement.

“But I’m really sleepy,” Yun Yin insisted, pursing her lips. “I want to sleep.”

“You’ve already slept for hours,” Pei Yu pointed out.

“But I’m still tired,” Yun Yin replied, looking at him with a pout.

“Stop acting like a spoiled child,” Pei Yu said, his brow furrowing slightly.

Pei Yu found himself increasingly drawn to Yun Yin’s expressive eyes. Her peach blossom eyes, brimming with tenderness, had clear, bright pupils that shimmered with a watery sheen, making them utterly captivating.

“…?”

Yun Yin blinked in confusion, wondering if Pei Yu had misunderstood something.

Before she could explain, Pei Yu scooped her up, blanket and all, and carried her downstairs for breakfast.

For the next few days, Yun Yin was confined to the villa to recover. But tomorrow was Pei Yu’s birthday, and she still hadn’t bought him a gift. She needed to find time to slip out.

---

The following morning, Yun Yin woke up early. She was already seated at the dining table when Pei Yu came downstairs.

Pei Yu found her sitting there, looking demure, and greeting him with a cheerful, “Good morning.”

Pei Yu paused, then walked toward her. “It’s rare for you to be up so early.”

“……”

Was he openly mocking her?

She didn’t have work to worry about, so why would she get up so early?

But now wasn’t the time to argue. Yun Yin forced a smile. “Early to bed, early to rise, makes one healthy.”

“Then I’ll have Aunt Lin wake you up at this time every day,” Pei Yu said calmly, settling into his chair and taking a leisurely sip of his coffee.

“……” Yun Yin’s pink lips parted slightly. After a moment, she awkwardly changed the subject. “Can I go out today?”

A faint smile flickered in Pei Yu’s eyes. “It’s gotten colder these past few days. Wait for better weather.”

Yun Yin persisted. “I’ve been stuck in my room for days. I’m so bored. I really want to go out today, and I feel like I’m almost fully recovered.”

Hearing this, Pei Yu set down his coffee and glanced up at her.

Did she even understand her own condition, claiming she was “almost fully recovered”?

After a moment, he slowly replied, “Alright.”

Before Yun Yin could rejoice, Pei Yu added, “Since you’re bored, why not come to work with me?”

Yun Yin: “?”

Wouldn’t going to work be even more boring?

Yun Yin watched the earnest man before her, hesitating before finally trying to dissuade him. “I don’t want to go out. I just want to browse the record store. I’ve already listened to all the records and albums I bought before.”

“I’ll take you after work,” Pei Yu replied.

Realizing she couldn’t reason with him, Yun Yin pondered for a moment before reluctantly accepting his offer. “……Alright.”

A few minutes later, noticing Pei Yu had nearly finished eating, Yun Yin set down her chopsticks, eager to leave. “Shall we go now?”

“No rush,” Pei Yu said calmly, unhurried. “Finish your meal first.”

“I’m full,” Yun Yin insisted.

Pei Yu remained silent, his gaze fixed on her plate. Following his line of sight, Yun Yin saw several shrimp dumplings still untouched, the entire plate of sandwiches untouched, and half a glass of milk remaining.

“……” Yun Yin paused, her expression serious. “I really am full.”

“We’ll leave when you’ve finished,” Pei Yu said flatly.

Defeated, Yun Yin reluctantly finished the remaining shrimp dumplings. She drained her milk and looked up at the man across from her, her voice soft with a hint of unconscious grievance. “I really can’t eat any more.”

Only then did Pei Yu relent, mercifully sparing her from finishing the sandwiches. Yun Yin let out a sigh of relief.